Tag: Exponential Thinking

The Modernization of Education

Technology’s Impact in the Classroom

Many of us can remember the technology-free classroom. First, we were being reprimanded for passing notes, and soon after for cell phone use. As kids head back to school this month, they enter a classroom different from former times. Technology in the classroom is now being fully embraced, with laptops now commonplace. Since the Toronto District School Board’s WiFi rollout was completed in 2016, all schools in the board now have wireless networks. The board has a $3-million annual technology budget.

Traditionalists might argue that in today’s tech-obsessed world, reliance on even more technologies is detrimental to young minds. Then there is also the possibility of abuse of technology and inappropriate use of social media.

On the other hand, it’s a digital generation, and with the focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) courses, the need for more tech becomes all the more imperative.

How do parents feel about this? In a recent survey from Microsoft and YouGov, 60% of parents were ‘optimistic’ about the role technology is going to have in their child’s life as they get older, while 30% felt they were ‘unsure’ or ‘scared. 86% of parents said that tech in school, such as computer use and educational software, was beneficial to their child’s education.

Learning beyond the classroom

Educational videos may be soon a thing of the past, if not already. The Education on Board Program allows Australian teachers to sail on marine research ship RV Investigator. They are able to enhance their STEM knowledge and content, and conduct live webinars to their classrooms. They also plan to incorporate their experiences at sea into their lessons. This allows learning to be more interactive and applicable to the real world.

This semester, biology students at Arizona State University can use student loan payments to pay for virtual reality headsets. With the goal to “provide students with real-world experience,” students have the option to use these headsets to complete the course’s lab requirements.

Can spot weaknesses

Microsoft, a company applauded for modernizing the classroom, recently unveiled new technology. One example is Snap + Core First, a symbol-based communication application to help those with speech and language disabilities express themselves.

Recent research predicts that the use of AI in the U.S. education sector will grow 47.5 per cent through 2021. While AI-powered educational games are frequently used, AI can be particularly helpful for those children taking special education, where the traditional one-size-fits-all approach is not appropriate. For these students, AI provides a personalized education, and helps with increasing attention span.

Virtual assistants such as Alexa or Siri may help shyer children become more confident, said Chris King, chairman of the HMC group of private schools in the UK.

Greater efficiency

Students and teachers in Saskatchewan are now being provided with SMART Learning software, which allows students to collaborate with others through their phones and tablets. With the software, teachers are able to design interactive lessons and provide game-based learning modules.

Adoption of technology in classrooms helps ease the workload for teachers. With AI helping to do mundane tasks such as reading directions out loud and grading standardized tests, teachers are able to spend more one-on-one time with students. An eastern China school has even installed facial recognition technology to monitor how attentive students are in class. If students seem distracted, based on their facial expressions, the computer will send this feedback to teachers. Intrusive? Maybe. At least there is no need to take attendance.

At Singularity University’s Global Summit last month, the future of work and learning were topics on the agenda. Gary A. Bolles, Chair of the Future of Work, stressed the importance of reshaping our educational institutions.

“We have to blow up what we’ve got today,” he said. “The current education system that is helping our young to be able to be prepared for the world of work is preparing them for yesterday’s world of work, not today’s.”

Integration of technology can enhance the school experience, and teachers should make greater use of it. With so many new innovations on the market, it makes returning to school seem almost appealing. The possibilities are endless, and poised to make an impact.

Exponential Growth in Travel

How Technology is shaping the Future of the Industry

There is a growing demand for travel, and the amount of air traffic is only expected to increase. In 20 years time, the air travel market is expected to be 2.5 times larger, and the global commercial jet fleet will double in size by 2037. One of the driving forces behind this global surge in the industry? Technology. Whether it is innovation in aviation, airports, or booking and hotels, technology has revolutionized the travel experience.

The latest from the flight deck

Air New Zealand, an airline with a reputation for innovation, just announced that it has teamed up with North Shore-based Zenith Tecnica to explore the possibility of 3D printed metal parts for aircraft. The airline made a foray into the Silicon Valley tech scene by entering a partnership with JetBlue Technology Ventures (JTV), the venture capital subsidiary of JetBlue Airways. This partnership is the first of its kind on an international level in the industry, and looks to bolster innovation in the sector and support both existing and newly formed start-ups.

Other transportation companies are also exploring new technologies. Boeing is collaborating with SparkCognition to use a combination of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence that will ensure safe and secure transport while also tracking unmanned air vehicles and allocating traffic corridors.

There’s lots of potential to reimagine the flying experience, and it’s exciting to see what the coming years will bring.

Navigating the airport terminal

Travellers have spoken, and airports are listening.

Los Angeles’ LAX is looking at survey data from Metis, an AI-backed data analytic system – to see what passengers are saying and feeling – about their airport experience. The system extracts elements of every comment or post and relates them to categories such as food and beverage, logistics and Transportation Security Administration.

Baggage handling is another focus point, with 71% of airlines planning to provide real-time bag tracking information to passengers by 2020.

British Airways has been testing biometric gates at several airports, and found that in L.A., they have been able to board more than 400 customers in 22 minutes – less than half the time it typically takes with manual boarding.

Robots and AI are personalizing the guest experience

According to WTM Insights, a new quarterly magazine on global travel trends, hospitality robots are serving as concierges, luggage porters and receptionists, and are found in airports, restaurants and hotels around the world.

Singapore has embraced AI with Savioke robots. The M Social Singapore (part of Millennium Hotels and Resorts), has robots Aura and Ausca, “to increase productivity, optimise operations and enhance guest experiences. An internal audit has shown that they save at least five hours per day,” said the hotel’s Chief Marketing Officer.

Las Vegas’ Wynn Hotel now has Amazon Echo speakers in each of its 4,748 rooms.

Augmented reality technologies are used to emulate trips, and German airline Lufthansa has created 360-degree videos of various destinations, including Hong Kong, New York and Tokyo. The videos are available on YouTube and viewable on VR headsets to transport aspiring travellers and people planning their next trip.

Is this slew of new technology a force for good, or is it detrimental? Is it streamlining the experience, or making it impersonal?

“Because it’s an infrequent purchase, the psychology of anticipation and discovery is pleasurable. So the idea of consolidating the whole travel discovery experience down to one site, one page, one app – it just fails miserably. The idea that you will talk to your home device and it will spit out a trip for you, I just don’t buy it.” For entrepreneurs, there is a great deal of risk and so many moving parts in travel. Yet there is also a lot of potential.

Exponential technology has transformational potential for individuals and industries, and these technologies are constantly evolving.

While technology can certainly help with aspects of the journey, we must not forget the importance of human connection.

There is joy in researching and discovering new places, but if new innovations are introduced in a balanced way that can help weary travellers make the experienced easier, they are welcome.

SingularityU Canada will be travelling to San Francisco, CA for our Global Summit. The summit will explore innovations in exponential technologies, such as AI, VR and robotics. Join us.

Continuous Learning is a Necessity in Today’s Job Market

Why the World’s Smartest Workers are Focused on Lifelong Learning to Enhance their Skillsets

Leading professionals are changing their approach to learning. Faced with an uncertain future of work shaped by rapidly developing technologies, social change, and unprecedented flows of global information and data, learning is no longer reserved to early years or formal classrooms. Lifelong learners are emerging in every industry and in every country. People are recognizing the value and necessity of continuous learning as an iterative, evolving process that can have a positive effect on every aspect of their professional and personal lives.

Shifting your focus toward the future and pushing the boundaries to think bigger and do things differently will enable you to enhance your value in the workforce. Whether you’re seeking your first entry-level position, launching a new venture, or leading an organisation from the C-suite, learning is critical to advance your career and your impact. Continuous learning unlocks new opportunities, perspectives, and possibilities.

“Combining a degree with beneficial elements typically found in college or university programs such as co-op terms, internships and other experiential learning opportunities [is] the ultimate one-two punch, career-wise,” offers Kira Vermond in the article, Formal learning or learning on the job? from The Globe and Mail. Vermond highlights SingularityU as an alternative learning platform that can create a more robust outlook and approach as people navigate uncharted career paths.

Continuous learning and an eyes-wide-open approach offer understanding and insight to leverage the value in different perspectives and advancements.

Attend events, seek mentors, read new genres, disconnect from your routine, and expand your network. To remain resilient in the future, accessing learning opportunities that unite diverse disciplines, processes, and industries is essential. SingularityU Canada programs are designed to provide information and intersections, illuminating the connections between seemingly disparate industries and breaking down the barriers to understanding the world’s most impactful and complex innovations.

Keeping up-to-date with the latest in technological advancements is critical – but the pace of change is rapid. In traditional curriculum, content is out of date by the time it reaches the classroom. At SingularityU, curriculum is redesigned for each event and set before each program based on the latest breakthroughs, emerging trends, and current developments.

Learning directly from the minds shaping these trends is a unique and eye-opening experience. Experts with first-hand knowledge and the vision to create and implement transformational technologies offer a distinct perspective and make ideal instructors and mentors. SU Canada programs are led by inspiring innovators and decision-makers from diverse fields. The experts changing the face of society and transforming industries are being drawn upon for SU Canada Faculty to offer participants direct insight into the forces, processes, and technology behind the buzzwords.

Lifelong learning is a path to stay ahead of the curve. With access to more information and more innovative programs than ever before, people have the opportunity to constantly evolve their learning styles, approaches, and mindset. Thought frameworks and design principles that create a flexible outlook and strategy are key to face change and lead innovation. With the right foundation, you will be able to recognize and act on emerging technologies and industry disruption, while fostering a learning mindset as your default approach to change.

SingularityU Canada offers programs that are designed to provide cutting edge exposure to the thinking and technologies that will enable people to take immediate action and drive impact for themselves, their organisations, and the country.

Cross-Canada Clusters Identified as Economic Drivers

The federal government has announced the winners to its Innovation Supercluster Initiative. The winners are groups of high-performing public and private sector stakeholders and specialised teams from diverse industries who are collaborating to drive change and advance technology in key areas. Winning clusters get access to a piece of $950 million in committed funding and must match the amount they receive.

Canada is renewing its focus on innovation, research, and development, demonstrating that the country has an important voice and perspective on global issues.

With this collaborative push to succeed in identified focus areas, and emphasis on economic stimulation, Canada is well-positioned to be recognized for its role worldwide as a global leader in scientific breakthroughs, sustainability, and innovative development models.

Five winning clusters were selected, and reflect the breadth and dynamism of Canada’s culture, talent, and economic landscape. They have very different focus areas but all contribute to solidifying Canada’s leadership position.

We put together a brief overview of the five winning Innovation Superclusters below, highlighting the exponential technologies they leverage, as well as additional resources to help you understand more about these key technological drivers and forces of change.

The clusters are all uniquely ambitious and positioned to succeed in creating important advancements in key emerging technologies and in long-standing industries. It is an exciting time for Canada as innovators, supporters, and talented thinkers from coast-to-coast join forces to drive development and advances in the areas that matter most.

If you are interested in learning more about exponential technologies and the role they play in our lives – and will play in the future – explore our resources and upcoming events. Leaders can expand their mindset and realize the full scope and impact of the rapid rate of technological change at our first SingularityU Canada Executive Program. Space is limited and spots are filling quickly – apply today!

Canada's Role as a Global Innovation Leader

Share your thoughts on the Innovation Supercluster Initiative. Join the Canadian innovation conversation with #SUCanada #ExponentialCanada.

Canada on the World Stage

Drawing Leadership Inspiration from the 2018 Winter Olympics

Global impact. Grit. Inspiration. Leadership. Perseverance.

They all apply to Canadian organisations – and Canadian athletes.

With the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics happening this month, it is an exciting time to reflect on Canada’s position on the world stage. Just like our businesses, our athletic teams consistently punch above their weight and emphasize the qualities that make Canada a great place to live, learn, and work.

The Olympics are always a great opportunity to focus on performing faster, stronger, and better. They can be a fantastic source of inspiration. The narrative element that carries through so much of the programming can provide a lens that extends beyond sport and appeals to the universal humanity that connects us all. The stories and impressive athleticism on display can also directly apply to leaders and high performers around the world.

Innovation is evident throughout the event. It is on display in the specialised apparel worn by medalists and the advanced gear used for many winter sports. Behind the scenes, it is used in the athletes’ unique approaches to funding their training, and committing mentally, physically, and emotionally to the training itself, even against the odds. The diverse stories shared in conjunction with each race, heat, or program reflect the innovation and resilience that must take place at an individual level to become the best. To “Be virtuous. Be victorious. Be Olympic.”

4 Olympic Qualities to Embody in Your Work

Beyond the pride and awe, draw inspiration from the 2018 Winter Olympics and consider how you can embody the qualities of athletes in your life and work.

Dedication

Having an off day is okay — having a day off is not. Planning, training, studying, and pushing through roadblocks make the performances we see in PyeongChang possible. To excel in any role or field, commitment must be evident in your work ethic and approach to collaboration. Stay the course and lead by example. The results are never guaranteed, but if you can get comfortable being uncomfortable, you can face unpredictable changes and new information in a way that is grounded in experience and unafraid of innovation.

Decision Making

When you are watching an event, consider how many choices an athlete must make every second. From movement to strategy to creative improvisation, there are countless factors that result in constant decision making. How do they do it so confidently? See ‘Dedication’ above and consider how your approach to decision making – whether on display or behind the scenes – can be a source of confidence, reassurance, and creativity for your team. Even if the outcomes are uncertain, your ability to steer the ship with a clear vision can empower your people to do their best work.

Risk Taking

It may look easy from the sidelines, but the extreme nature of the sports on display can not be understated. Split second decisions, countless variables, and unpredictable risk characterize many of the events. When was the last time you took a risk at work? Your role may not be quite as extreme, but taking risks is the best way to drive meaningful change and innovate. It could be as easy as committing to asking the next ‘risky’ question that comes to mind or being bold enough to start a new initiative not directly tied to your KPIs.

Listening

Behind the incredible medalists are coaches, trainers, medics, teams, and communities. The athletes may appear front and centre this week, oftentimes alone, but a lot of their time is spent listening and absorbing the knowledge, advice, and expertise of others. To shine in your role as a leader, or in any position, understanding when to listen and ask for help is the best way to excel. You demonstrate a desire to learn and grow while elevating the profile of your team and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to contribute.

Just like the athletes, leaders need to learn, evolve, and train to offer the strongest perspective and strategize with the most bold and informed decision making possible.

No country is immune to global forces of change. No industry remains static. No organisation can afford to risk of inaction. No leader can be complacent.

As Canadian athletes demonstrate our talent and integrity, leaders across the country can take notes to enhance their own approach. Some creative inspiration and a universal mindset will ensure Canadians continue to own the podium when it comes to innovation and the transforming global economy.

Go Canada Go!

Share how you are inspired by the 2018 Olympics and join the Canadian innovation conversation with #SUCanada #ExponentialCanada.

What Kind of Exponential Leader Are You?

Identify Your Leadership Style to Learn and Excel

Leadership styles vary. There is no single ‘right’ way to lead a team, motivate your employees, or share your vision to guide change and drive impact. Understanding your own style, strengths, and weaknesses, though, is essential to learn, grow, and leverage your best qualities.

Exponential leadership happens at the nexus of great vision and great management. It’s not just about supporting your teams and giving marching orders. Exponential leaders share their vision, inspiring their people and the world around them, while empowering their talent to utilize and develop their own expertise.

Innovation happens when strong leaders shine a light down a new path and enable their teams – equipped with the right tools, support, and confidence – to traverse, define, and improve it.

Lisa Kay Solomon, Chair of Transformational Practices at Singularity University, believes that exponential leadership is not reserved for the “magic” few leaders we read about in news headlines. She works to educate, empower, and inspire leaders to change their models to perform better and be more resilient in the face of exponential technologies and disruption.

“These are teachable and learnable skills,” Solomon explains. “Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Recognize and appreciate that you don’t fully understand the problem. Practice empathetic observation to get to the real question – beyond just the presenting problem.”

Accept Uncertainty About the Future – but be Certain About Your Leadership Strengths

If you can overcome the need to be sure, the need to be right, and the desire for control, you may be close to unlocking the potential of exponential leadership.

Among effective managers and visioneers, there are different motivations and styles that inform success. Four key types of change drivers have been outlined by Solomon. Each one has the potential to make an exponential difference.

Which exponential leadership style do you connect with?

Futurist – You imagine bold ideas.

Humanitarian – You make choices that positively impact people and communities.

Innovator – You bring ideas to life.

Technologist – You accelerate possibilities with technology.

Lisa Kay Solomon’s framework for identifying the four types of exponential leaders

Once you have determined your style, you can better understand your motivations and apply your strengths toward making an exponential impact on the world. Work with your team to identify complementary skillsets for more effective collaboration. Expand your perspective by spending time shadowing and learning from innovative leaders with other styles.

“You need to ask yourself: what can I do to support learning opportunities at my organization?” Solomon says.

Seek opportunities for yourself and your teams, nurturing skills and expanding horizons for a collaborative, dynamic, and evolving workplace. Some teammates may benefit from technical training or interest-driven side projects. The SingularityU Canada Executive Program could be your next C-suite learning opportunity that focusses on transformation and strategic foresight.

Determine what works at the individual level, without losing sight of your team’s makeup and broader organizational goals. Most importantly: always be open to new ideas when it comes to learning and leading.

How does your leadership style connect to your organization's goals?

Let us know in the comments or join the conversation online with #SUCanada #ExponentialCanada.

Integrate Global Thinking in Your Organization

The global grand challenges (GGCs) underpin the conversations, missions, and technologies that Singularity University and SingularityU Canada Summit focus on. They are not your typical business obstacles. They are problems that are faced by all of humanity and need to be addressed now to ensure a secure and abundant future.

By pushing people to think beyond profits and immediate results, and uncovering strategies, frameworks, and thought processes that focus on outcomes and transformative solutions, we can change the course of history.

These challenges can be used as a launchpad to look beyond the results of your next fiscal quarter and expand the notion of what your organization can accomplish.

The scale is what makes the GGCs so impactful and important. The scale is also what can make them seem so daunting and difficult to tackle. When taken as a whole, the concepts may seem overwhelming or impossible to translate into your small business or long-standing, rigid organization.

Thankfully, there are small steps you can take toward making a big impact. Regardless of your particular passion, the size of your team, industry you work in, or level of expertise, there are ways that you can start making a difference today.

Four Global Grand Challenge Entry Points to Try with Your Team

Asking the right questions is a good place to start. Start broad and work to identify how you, your team, and your organization fit into the bigger picture. Discover which challenge your people connect with the most, whether or not is it an obvious fit for your organization. Not sure where to start? Consider the four global grand challenges we selected for our 2017 Summit focus to spark discussion and make change.

Citizenship

Consider new models for decision making within your organization. How can new voices can be considered? What equitable delivery methods can be implemented?

Explore how industry policies that impact your team and your customers could be improved for the benefit of all. Can you advocate for or lead the improvements?

Prosperity

Assess and reconsider distribution models. What forms of reinvestment can be used to prioritize equality, job creation, and innovation?

Energy

What inefficiencies exist within your current power consumption, supply chain, processes, employee behaviours (i.e. commuting), and operations? Look local and incentivize or gamify collective improvement.

Take a long-term view. Can you alter or conceptualize practices that minimize consumption by employees or clients?

Health

Dive into the data regarding employee benefits, habits, and overall health. What patterns exist and what areas are ready for improvement?

Recognize the implications of your product or service on the health of clients and users. Take steps to make processes and interactions more beneficial to everyone’s health.

Working toward change collectively will yield the best and fastest results.

As exponential technologies and rapid development converge, working on the global grand challenges together is more important than ever before.

SingularityU Canada is on a mission to break down the barriers to understanding and working on these and all global grand challenges. Every day, we are motivated to inspire Canadians with the real possibilities and connect a community of forward-thinkers, decision-makers, and pot-stirrers to drive, improve, and invent solutions in Canada.

How will your organization contribute to global change?

Share your wins and challenges with us at #SUCanada #ExponentialCanada.

3 Ways to Foster an Exponential Mindset at Your Organization

Share Lessons to Make Your Team More Innovative

If you were able to join us for the inaugural SingularityU Canada Summit, you were exposed to a lot of lessons and ideas over two days. Now what? Have you been able to translate exponential thinking to your teams, share your findings, and start creating change?

A full room at the Workshops at the SingularityU Canada Summit 2017.

It is not always easy to distill the big ideas and transformative practices we covered into your daily goals and work flow. If you are trying to turn information into impact, consider the ideas below. Leverage these tips from our Summit Workshop series to shorten the distance between what you know and what your team knows and make exponential thinking a universal practice in your organization.

1. Start with a learning mindset.

Lisa Kay Solomon recommends that leaders start by asking questions, joining the conversation, and embarking on the journey alongside your team. Avoid sharing a ‘fire hose of information’ that can overwhelm those who are just hearing about exponential technologies for the first time. Instead, try playing a sci-fi film or video game to find an accessible starting point and bridge the concepts through shared experiences. As you share your knowledge, be open to the viewpoints and insights other people have to offer. Share your favourite sessions from the 2017 Summit to spark discussion and empower people to speak their minds. You may find that your team has been thinking about these concepts and ideas more than you knew!

2. Look outside of your organization.

Working towards a set goal or business plan can make it easy to lose sight of external threats, internal biases, and new approaches. Time and time again, we have observed that innovation comes from the outside of organizations and often outside of industries. Access it by finding a young mentor, exploring uncommon partnerships, visiting innovation hubs, and talking to people from different sectors. It can be as simple as committing to one coffee a month with someone who has a different role, background, or experience than you. Make time for creative discovery and connect with people within and outside of your vertical. Broaden your horizons and you may be surprised by how quick and expansive the results are – for your network and your outlook.

Workshop participants play The Thing from the Future to brainstorm creative solutions.

3. Shift perspectives.

Steer the conversation toward opportunities to take a positive lens on disruption. Use The Thing from the Future and other creative exercises to collaborate freely. Remember Larry Keeley’s view on innovation: it is a rigorous science and discipline that anyone can learn. Reframe and reconsider what you can contribute and don’t be intimidated by big changes. Forget the notion that expertise is required to invent and create. Start today and work collaboratively on projects that are not directly related to your organization or team goals. Unlocking new progress can be accomplished by shaking things up in simple, seemingly disparate ways that promote open dialogue.

Participants imagine alternate futures and collaborate on new ideas.

Use learning to unlock exponential thinking on your team.

Learning leads to innovation. Keep the conversation going and ensure every member of your organization is given the chance to explore their interests, define their values, and work toward new solutions. Each organization, team, and individual learns and grows differently. Consistently, though, good things happen when people are encouraged to grow, emboldened to act, and motivated to try and make a positive difference.

How are you driving learning and sharing your exponential mindset?

A must-see experience, our special guest David Roberts will take you on an inspiring journey of self-reflection, describing the essential role you must play to shape our collective future.

Key Takeaways:
– To navigate the changes of exponential technologies we have to rethink most of society’s basic assumptions
– There are no innocent bystanders, we collectively need to get involved and make a difference
– Our brain evolved to ensure our survival but courage of engaging will drive us forward
– Humanity is by nature exponential but it is as a group that we have to shape our collective future

Create surprising and provocative new futures through the award winning game The Thing from the Future, created by futurist Stuart Candy and designer Jeff Watson, facilitated by scenario planning expert and author Lisa Kay Solomon.

Questions we’ll explore:
– How can you design generative and expansive conversations about the future?
– What are the range of possibilities, even with limited constraints?
– How do you create abundant bold and imaginative ideas
– How can exploring a multiplicity of futures make us more creative and resilient leaders?